Machine for smoothing surfaces



July 4, 1944.

G. CLAUSING 2,352,690 MACHINE FOR SMQOTHING SURFACES Filed Dec. 4 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR. George Clausmg z-zi lmjkmm A T TORNE YS.

July 4, 1944. G. CLAU SING MACHINE FOR SMOOTHING SURFACES File d Dec. 4, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 JNvENToR. George Clousing kw w ATTURNE Y5.

- July 4, 1944. I

G. CLAUSING 2,352,690

MACHINE FOR SMOOTHING SURFACES Y Filed Dec. 4, 1941 8vSheets-Sheet 3' I37 I27 I32 I43 62 I 6 INVENTOR: George Clousmg A TTORNEYS.

y 1944- G. CLAUSING 2,352,690

MACHINE FOR SMOOTHING SURFACES Filed Dec. 4, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR George. Cluusmg ATTORNEYS July 4, 1944. G. CLAUSING MACHINE FOR SMOOTHING SURFACES I 8 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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Muhwfw ATTOR NEV6 July 4, 1944. I 1 c 2,352,690 MACHINE FVORDSMOOTHING SURFACES Filed Dec. 4, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig; 9.

I 1 42. z I I02 INVENTOR M WM ATTORNEYS George C lausing July 4, 1944. G, CLAUSING v MACHINE FOR SMOOTHING SURFACES 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Dec. 4, 1941 INVENTOR George Clausing ATTORNEYS July 4, 1944; G. cLAuslNe' MACHINE FOR SMOOTHI NG SURFACES Filed Decl 4; 1941 8 Sheets-Shet 8 IQVENTO Geoi 'ge Clausmg Ill/l IIII I I ATTORNEYS Patented July 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,352,690 MACHINE FORSMOOTH'ING.SURFACES- George oiausifigrmsmouflr, unit, ass'igfior'to I Vulcan Corporation Application'Decemlier 4, 1941, Serial No; 421,543

. 25 Claims.

This invention relates to am apparatus for smoothing the surfaces of irregularly shaped objects, such as the exposed decorative surfaces of a shoe heel, and has particular reference to a novel a'pparatus'for this purpose which is accu rate and reliable in operation and maybe opei ated by relatively unskilled. labor. This'applica' t-ion is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial-No. 341,882 filed June 22 1940, and said application is now Patent 2,312,028

issued Feb. 23,1943; v I

For illustrative purposes, theinvention will be described and illustrated in the form-of a ma chine for smoothing the side and back areas of a shoe heel, although it will be-und'erstoodthatthe invention may be employed for smoothing the surfaces of other articles. The smoothing operation on'the heel is executed after the turning operation which develops the generalcontour of the heel; 'Iheapparatus of the invention'may be used with heels made of natural wood or heels olded from composition materials.- In the case a heel made from natural wood the back and side areas are shaped upon a spindle, shaper known in the heel, manufacturing art as a turn-- ing machine. As the heel-comes from the turning machine it bears minute knife marksandle in a generally rough condition due to wood fibers which have been raised and irregularly distributed over the surface of the heel. The heel smoothing operation, therefore, consists of reducing the back andside areas of the heel to a finely grained, smoothly surfaced condition which will readilyreceive coating material evenly and smoothly and insure that the external surface of the coating material will present a uniformly smooth appearance.

In the manufacture of heels for shoes; the finish upon the exposed areas must beof the highest quality, and this requirement is" particularly stringent in the marketing and sale of heels of all types to be attached to ladies" shoes. I'n't'he production of such heels, the final smoothing op-' eration has been performed heretofore by" a highly skilled operator and, consequently, has" been a relatively costly hand operation, In the new apparatus, the heel smoothing op eration is performed automatically at high pro; duction speed and with accuracy, uniformityand high quality results at a greatly reduced co t. The apparatus is provided with a carrier orconveyor' for feeding the heelsd'uring the smoothing operation or operations. of an suitable type butispremrably circulariiii I form and has arr-aiiged-abollt its periphery 9 The carrier may be v plurality otheel-hold'in'g and feeding heads. The carrier :is rotatedyby' power means; about a vertical axis: uponthe base or" frame of the machine. One or more operating stations are situated in a fixed position about the" periphery of the carrier. Each station is pro 'vided with: a driven sanding toot preferably ins'tl'ieform'z of. a flexiblebelt, the active portion; of which" is positioned closely adjacent the path: of: the heel. feeding heads.

Means: are provided formanipulating the heads in ai speoific-mannertoicamse? them to present the heels. carried thereby, successively to the sand belts. The heel is placed in the jack inan accuratel y gauged position havingiits heightwise or vertical axis disposed substantially perpendicw larly tofhe plane movement of the carrier.

A teature of theinvention; is an automatically actuated positioning mechanism which gauges the position of the heelv in the Jack; as it is placed therein by anoperator. Each of the heel feeding. heads isprovided' with a heel clamping jack, which is opened automatically to eject a treatedheel and "held open to receive an untreated heek lltis',l'at-thislportionof themachine cycle thatthe' heelpositioning means is automatically so positionedwith respectto" the jack,-that the operator. by utilizing the gauging means accurate'ly' and" uniformly places the heels to' be treated in the jacks successively as they pass a given pointinthe revolution of thecarrier,

Each heel jack is mounted to rotate upon the heel feeding head Therota-tion of the jacks is obtained by; mounting them upon the upper end of a turret memberwhich is rotatably mounted within theheel feed-ing head, The heel feeding heads are pivoted upon the carrier to swing in ahorizon-tal plane and at such relative position upon the-carrier that; the heel held in the jack moves substantiallygradially outward from the axis of the carrier; ,1 A

Means are provided-for continuously rotating the vj ach carrying the heels throughout the machine cycle except duringathe period ,of election of atr eatcd heel and'the loading period when an untreatedfheel is started in the jack, during which period the-jacks are: held against rotation, but continue to move bodily under the influenc of the carniera 'I-n: operating-themachine} a: heel is placed in ajalck, which; carries it to thefirst opera-ting star no means; until-the heelengages'thesmoothing-toolz The rotation of the heel is so timed that it will first engage the smoothing tool when the belt surface is exactly tangent to the heel surface at one breast corner. The heel then continues to rotate and traverse the belt surface simultaneously until the other side of the heel surface at the other breast corner becomes tangent to the belt surface, at which time the heel feeding head is swung inward to disengage the heel from the smoothing tool. If other treating stations are provided, the heel is given further treatment in the same manner as above described in connection with the first station.

The efiectiveness of the machineis. greatly enhanced by a novel means for positively maintaining accurate match and contact'of the smoothing tool with the heel surface continuously throughout the smoothing operation. To accomplish this result, the smoothing tool is backed up by a contour block which bears a profile contour complementaryto the profile of the heel contour. The smoothing tool is held in close contact with the contour block while it is driven thereacross.

The position of the heel in its jack is so gauged that, as it is rotated by the turret, it will turn about an axis passing substantially centrally vertically through the heel. Such axis being so disposed that the heel when rotated will, as closely as possible, be presented to and. coincide. with the profile of the form block atall positions it assumes during the smoothing operation. This axis will hereinafter be designated as the axis of symmetry.

Some heels, such as those with the smoothing tool without any additional movement between the heeland tool. than its rotation about its axis of symmetry while engaging the tool. However, heels which are higher and contain in their design moreintricate. curves are more difficult to process accurately. The. present invention provides a means for effec-'.

tively automatically smoothing uniformly every portion of the side and back areas of the heel. In processing the higher types of heels when they are placed in the heel-jack with their axis of match occurring between the form block and.

the heel profile. This means-may be characterized broadly as a pattern means. While any type of pattern means may be-employed as the principle activating element, the specific form shownand described herein is a cam, the shapeof which may be adapted to any given set of conditions. It was determined by careful study that by shifting the position of the-form block with respect to the heel to present given portions of its contour to the heel as the heel is rotated to present successive portions of its area to the smoothing-tool, the contours of these elements could be accurately matched at all portions of the treated heel surface. between the form block and the heel in predetermined timed relation that brings about an accuratematch between .theheel and the contour which arerelatively low, can successfully be treated by engagement 1 It is this shifting of. the relative position passage of a cam follower mounted upon the carrier and passing over the face of the cam, a cam follower being mounted on each of the carrier heads.

The shape of the cam and the timing of its action are calculated to rock the form block in the required manner to match the contours of the heel therewith at all relative positions therebetween. In this manner, a perfectly uniform treatment is given all portions of the heel and the smoothing operation isnot only done extremely rapidly, but with such precision thata very fine finish is produced andfurthermore the; intended heel shape is automatically accurately held within close limits.

To present a better understanding of the in-.

vention, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described. Such embodiment of. the invention is illustrated in the attached drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine in which certain parts are removed or broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view of the machinetaken substantially on line 2.2, Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a detail view ofthe smoothing tool tracking adjustment. l

Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view of broken away or removed and is intended to illustrate more or less diagrammaticall at least a portion ofthe cycle of operation of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a development of the heel jack opening cam.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a bracket which supports the smoothing tool and the drivingele-- ments.

Fig. 8 is a detail of the formblock manipulat ing mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a plan detail view illustrating the con-- struction of the cammi'ng device for matching contours between the heel and smoothing tool.

' Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a heel holding head taken on line l0-l 0 Fig. 11.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional viewthrough a heel holding head.

Fig. 12 is a detail view illustrating the apestion of the means provided to start andstop the rotation of the heel jack at the loading and ejecting stations. 1

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a portion ofltheheel carrier showing the operation of the heel positioning means.

Fig. 14 is a plan detail viewillustrating the principal parts of the means,for adjusting the heel positioning device to receive heels of various bodimentof a heel treating head.

Fig. 18 is a partial sectional view on line |8--| 8, Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a variation in the construction of means for driving the smoothing tool.

The active elements of the machine are mounted upon a frame or base 20 which has a central vertical aperture therein which is desirably slightly tapered downwardly and in which a post 22 is tightly received. The upper portion of the post 22 has rotatably mounted thereon a circular carrier member indicated generally at 23. The upper portion of the base 20 is constructed in the form of an annular housing 24, within which a driving gear 25 is received. The gear 25 is secured upon a downwardly projecting sleeve portion 26 of the carrier 23. The carrier and gear rotate upon ball bearings 2'1, the inner races of which are secured upon the post 22 and the outer races of which are secured within a central aperture of the sleeve 26 of the carrier. 4

Upon the upper periphery of the gear housing 24 is fixedly secured, a circular superstructure 2B,- which has a bearing 29 within which the sleeve 26 of the carrier rotates. The outer peripheral portion of the superstructure 28 is provided with an annular shaped housing 30 within which the lower elements of a plurality of heel feeding heads, to be described in detail hereinafter, travel during the execution of the machine cycle. Secured to the upper portion of this housing is an annular covering 3| which encloses the upper portion of the heel feeding heads to protect the mechanism from dust and foreign matter and also the operator from injury by contact with the traveling heads. Suitable Openings are provided in the covering at each of the three processing stations to permit the smoothing tool to engage the heels held in the heel feeding heads.

A pinion gear 32 meshes with the drive gear 25 and is secured upon the end of a vertical shaft 33 journaled at its upper end in a bracket secured to the base 2|! of the machine and connected at its lower end to the output shaft of a conventional speed reducing unit 34. The input shaft 35 of the speed reducing unit has a pulley 36 thereon. A driving belt 3'! passes over and drives the pulley 35 and also passes over a small pulley 38 upon the shaft of a motor 39 fixed upon the base 20. The carrier 23 is thus driven at a slow rotative speed by the motor 39.

The carrier 23 supports and imparts feeding motion to a plurality of heel feeding heads 40 of identical construction. The number of heads employed is immaterial and is based upon the physical size of the machine and the desired rate of production. The carrier as shown employs nine heel feeding heads which are pivotally secured upon and evenly spaced around the periphery of the carrier 23. The heads 40 are pivoted to the carrier at one of their ends upon supporting brackets 4| which are securely bolted upon the top face of the carrier. Each bracket 4| has a pivot shaft 42 rotatably received and vertically disposed in their outer ends. The pivot shaft 42 extends downward into and has a bearing in the pivoted end of the heads 40. The other end of each head is free to move with a swinging motion about the axis of the shaft 42. The free end of the head supports and is provided with means to rotate a heel to be processed in a manner to be described hereinafter. The heads 40 are so disposed around the periphery of the carrier that a line passing through the axis of the pivot shaft and substantially the center of the heel supported on the outer endof the head will lie substantially tangentialto a radius from the center of the carrier. The heel end of the head, is movable substantially radially outward from the carrier axis.

Each head 40 is urged outwardly away from the carrier axis. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, such as by spring pressure. A desirable means for doing this is shown in the drawings. For each head, a device is provided for supplying the necessary pressure to urge the heads outward. A desirable construction comprises-a spring sup-porting member having a bodyportion 44 secured upon the upper face of the carrier having an aperture 45 therein extending radially outward from the carrier axis. Within the aperture 45 a spring expansion member 46 is slidably received. The member 46 is composed of two elements 4'! and 48. -The element 41 is telescoped within the element 48.- The two elements are centrally apertured and together form a chamber within which is received an expansion spring 49 which engages the end Walls of the members 41 and 48. The end faces of the elements 46 are provided with small, preferably spherical contact bosses 50. The inner ends of the expansion member 46 engage a plurality of adjusting cams 5I, while the outer ends thereof engage the free ends of the heads 40. The cams 5| are arranged about the axis of the carrier and are secured to a ring shaped supporting member 52- which is rotatable upon a cylindrical boss 53 extending upward from the upper face of the carrier. A gear segment 54 is secured upon the ring and cam assembly in position to mesh with a pinion gear 55, which is secured upon a shaft 55, which in turn, is rotatably mounted in an inward extension of one of the brackets 4|. The upper end of the shaft 56 has secured thereon a gear 51 which in turn meshes with a pinion 58 secured upon a shaft 59 which has a bearing in and projects upward through and above the upper face of a top plate 60.

The plate 60 is generally circular in shape and is secured upon the upper extremity of the brackets 4|. The upper end of the shaft 59 has secured thereto a hand wheel 6|, the lower portion of which is provided with notches 62 into which a spring pressed plunger 63 projects. The shape of the notches and the end of the plunger are such that the hand wheel may be rotated by applying a considerable force; but is held against rotation by any force likely to be imposed thereon by the normal operation of the machine. By rotating the wheel 6|, manual adjustment of the tension in the springs 49 is obtained. By increasing or decreasing the spring tension, a greater or less thrust is given the free end of the head 4!! bearing the heels to be treated. In the development of the operation of the machine, hereinafter to be set forth, the usefulness and desirability of this adjustment will be set forth.

The heads 40 are all identical in construction. Each head comprises a casing 64, within which a turret 65 is rotatably mounted upon a vertical axis. The turret 65 has mounted upon its upper end, the heel holding jack indicated generally at 66.. The turret is desirably constructed to rotate upon a pair of ball bearings 51 and has secured toits lower end, a gear 68 situated within the casing. The gear 68 meshes with an idler gear 69 journaled in the casing, which in turn, meshes with a gear 10 secured to the pivot shaft 42. The shaft 42 extends downward and has its main bearing in the upper portion of the casing 64 and projects downward through the bottom wall thereof and has secured upon its lower end a gear H and a specially shaped gear-like turret controlling member 12. The gear H meshes with a. ring gear 13 fixed upon the superstructure 28 a ring gear 13 fixed upon the super-structure 28 in concentric relation to the axis of the carrier and is illustrated best in Fig. 5. The gear 13 extends around the periphery of the superstructure 28 for approximately 270 and serves to drive the gear train in each head, composed of the gears 68, 69, and 19, for approximately 270 of every revolution of the carrier. The turret carrying the heel jacks containing the heels 14 are thus continuously rotated for the greater portion of their translational motion during a single revolution of the carrier.

The remaining portion of the machine cycle comprising substantially 90 of a revolution of the carrier is devoted to the unloading of the treated heels from the machine and the feeding of untreated heels thereto. During the execution of these operations, the rotation of the jacks is discontinued while their translational motion, occasioned by the rotation of the carrier, is continuous. Any suitable means may be employed to accomplish this end. A preferred construction is shown in Figs. 5, 10, 11 and 12. The interrupted portion of the ring gear 13 is occupied by a specially constructed segment 75. This segment has a smooth outer edge 16 which is concentric with the carrier axis, except at its two end portions. The end 'il is provided with a cam face 78 which presents a curve extending from a position which the leading face of the next suc ceeding tooth to the last normal tooth on the ring gear 13 would occupy, and outward away from the axis of the carrier in a smooth curve until it becomes tangent to the face 76. The cam face 18 co-acts with the special controlling gear 12 to stop rotation of the turret in a manner to be described hereinafter. The other end of the segment 75 is of special construction and presents a single gear tooth 19 of special form. The tooth 79 shown best in Figs. 11 and 12 cooperates with a specially shaped tooth 80 upon the control gear 12 to initiate rotation of the turret subsequently to the placement of an untreated heel in the heel jack by a machine operator.

The above outlined mechanism for starting and stopping the rotation of the turret, functions in a manner similar to a Geneva wheel motion. The action of one head only will be described since they all function in the same manner. As the carrier rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, the gear H is rotated which causes rotation of the gear m and through the inter-connecting gear train; also the gear 68, and the turret connected thereto. This gear movement is so timed that when the gear reaches the last tooth on the gear 13 adjacent the end portion 11 on the segment 15, a relatively flat portion 8| on the control ear 12, will engage the curved cam face 18. The cam portion is so designed that it will cause the flat portion ill of the gear 12 to smoothly ride along its face and thence into contact with the concentric 'face IS. The face 8| has a curvature complementary to the face 16 and its position with respect to the carrier axis is such that it snugly fits against the face 16 thus locking the gear train 63, 69 and 19 against rotation. The gear 68 is so timed withvrespect to the gear 10 that during this period when the gears are locked against rotation the heel jack will be positioned to-present,

the back of a heel held in the jack radially outward from the carrier axis and with the heel breast corners intersecting a tangent to a radius from a radially central plane of the heel to the axis of the carrier.

. The control gear 12 then moves along the face 16 of the segment. During this period, a treated heel is released from the heel jack and an untreated heel is put in place therein by the operator. When the control gear 72 and its companion gear H reaches the other end of the segment '15, a tooth 8 engages the tooth l9 and the gear train within the head is again caused to rotate. As the gear TI and the control gear 12 starts to rotate, the tooth rides smoothly into the space 82 in the segment 75 and the face 8| of the control gear 12 turns away from the segment 75. As the rotation continues, a tooth 83 on the gear H engages the first tooth of the ring gear 13, as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. The gear I! and its connected train then continues to rotate by reason of its engagement with the ring gear until it again arrives at the portion 78 of the segment 15, during which period of the machine cycle the control element "i2 rotates idly since its diameter is smaller than that of the gear I I.

Means are provided for manipulating the heel jack to release a treated heel and permit an untreated heel to be inserted therein and clamped in position. The heel jack 66, as above stated, is mounted upon the turret 65. The jack is provided with a base member 84 which is horizontally pivoted upon a post 85 at 86. The post 85 is secured to and projects upward from the turret 65. The jack base member 94 is adjusted for correct angular position to receive the heel seat of a heel and locks in place by means of a screw 87, which extends through a circular slot 88 in the member 84 and has screw threaded engagement in the post 85. The top face of the member 84 is correctly shaped to correspond to the shape of the concave attaching face of the heel 74, and its angle is so adjusted that when a conventional heel is placed thereon, its axis of symmetry will be substantially vertical. The adjustment afforded by the pivotal connection of the member 84 upon a post 85 provides for correctly positioning all types of heels upon the jack. The toplift end of the heel is engaged by an L-shaped clamping member 89, the upper horizontal portion 99 of which is roughened on its under face to rigidly grip the heel. The vertical portion SI of the clamp extends downward into the turret 65. Its lower end telescopes into a clamp lifting member 92 axially slidable vertically in the turret 95. The L-shaped clamp 89 is locked in a given relative position with respect to the lifting member 92 by a set screw 93 having screw threaded egagement with the member 92 and bearing against a fiat portion 94 on the member 89. Heels having various heights may thus be clamped within the jack by raising or lowering the clamping member to suit the size of the heel. Rotation of the heel clamping assembly is prevented by a collar 95 secured to the member 92 and having a vertical aperture 96 therein within which a pin 9? is received. The lower end of the pin is anchored in the top face of the turret.

The lifting member 92 is provided with a cam roll 98 rotatably mounted in the bifurcated lower end thereof. The lifting member carrying the clamp 89 is spring pressed downward causing the arm to engage the toplift end of the heel.

Any spring means may be provided to accomplish this purpose. As shown herein, a compression spring 99 functions in this capacity. The spring surrounds the lifting member and bears at one of its ends against the collar I99 integral therewith and at itsother end against a sleeve IilI tightly received in the turret and which serves as a top bearing for the vertical movement of the lifter 92. The lower bearing for the lifter 92 is provided by the sliding engagement of the collar I00 within the spring chamber I02, The heel clamp may be raised into its releasing position as shown in dotted line in Fig. l0 by any suitable means. Apreferred mechanism for accomplish-v ing this purpose comprises a cam- I03 secured upon the inside of the bottom wall of the casing 39 and curved to-the radius of the path of the lifting roll 98. The length of the cam I93 and its position upon themachine is so determined that 'directlyafter the turret is stopped-revolving by the arrival of the control member I2 at the segment 15, the roll 98 will ride upon therising face IM of the cam shown in the developed View of the cam illustrated in Fig. 6. This upward movement of the'cam releases a treated heel, which falls out or is ejected from the machine by any suitable means, such as an air jet, not shown. The clamp is held in it's releasing position by the flat top I of the cam I93, during which period an untreated heel is introduced into the jack and held therein. by the operator untilthe head 49 closely approaches its position where the rotation of the turret is again initiated in the manner above set forth. At this time, the roll 99 rides downward upon the portion I96 of the cam I93,

thereby permitting the spring 99 to clamp the heel, which then is carried to the processing stations.

Each head 40 is provided at itsouter or free end with a roller I01, which is held in engagement with and rolls upon the inner face of a track I98 Icy-means of the spring 49 within the members 46. The track I08 is concentric with the axis of the carrier for the greater part-of the circumference of the machine.

- At each processing station, however, the track is smoothing-operation. These smoothing tools are.

.desirablyinthe form of flexible belts having abrasive matter on their working face ormay be provided with a: suitable polishing compound. The Q smoothing tools are driven across andheld in close I contact with the active face of formblocks. which are given a contour complementary to the curve i" the master "profile of the-heel-andwhich wil-l be described in more detail hereinafter. The position of the cams I99 is adjustable along the track I08 and .is accurately .settocause the heel to engage the belt Ill! withone ofitsside faces tangent thereto at its breast corner. Theheel continues to rotate, presenting successiveportions .of its side and, back areas to the .belt until its other-side face becomes tangent to the belt atthe breast corner, at which time, another set of cams IGQAengage the rolls I01 on the heads 39, forcing the heads to swing inward, thus retracting the cams, I09may .be and should, for best operatiOn of the machine, be designed to rapidly bring the heel into close proximity to the belt and then retard the speed of the outward travel to permit gentlecontact between the heel and the belt.

In :keeping with the high degree of accuracy of operation and the true perfection of its work, the machine is provided with means for placing heels in the jack with a high degree of precision. The principle of operation-of this positioning means may be incorporated;in. various mechanical designs without. departing from the main inventive idea. A simple form is illustrated in the drawings, wherein a pair of positioning fingers II2 are arranged to move into accurate heel centering position with respect to the heel jack. There are heel centering mechanisms-in connection with each heel jack and they are identical in construction. Only one .of these mechanisms, therefore will be described. The fingersl I 2 are pivotally mounted at one of their ends-upon the longitudinal center line-of a slide 1 I3 at I I4. The slide -I I3 is mounted symmetricallywith respect to a radius I I5 from the carrier axis. The'slide II 3 is mounted to move lengthwise along the radius toward and'from the turret. A convenient construction for supporting and guiding the slide is tomount the slide upon the topof the member 44. A'dovetail guideway I l fi -is constructed between the slide H3 and the top face of "the-member 44.- Any suitable means, however, may be employed to guidethe slide I IS. A er II! is provided beneath the slide H3, within which acompression spring I I8 isreceived.

The spring ,I I8 engages the 'outer wall of the chamber -;I I1 "atone end and atits other end, en-

gages anabutment. I I 9 depending from the slide 'I I3. The slide is thus-urged toward the .carrier axis by the spring. At its inner end, theslide carries a cam roll 120, which is held against a cam .I2I under the influence of the spring H8.

The camJ 2| actuatesthe slide in a manner to-be described hereinafter, .The .outer ends of the finger .I I2 .are provided with substantially quare cornered recesses -.or rabbetsj 22, within which the breast. corners of the heel M are. received. The

degree of separation of the. fingers I I2 is determined by a pin. I2.3- .wl1ich is rigidly fixed within andextendsldownward from another slide 124, which. is capable of adjustment. parallelto the ,slideJ 1.3;, Thepin l 2,3 is locatedexaritly-upon the .radiusllllfiandextends between and is engaged by the inneriaces. of the fin ers, The outer-,or'tree end are ii-shap d, sprin I ,Lbearupo the outer. facesbfi the fingers which causes the inner faces thereof .to remain in. engagement with the pin at all times. position of the pin, there- ,fore, determines the position of the outer ends of the fingers andsince the pin is located centrally .of-..the. mechanism, .it. results in positioning the outer ends. ofthe finger-s accurately, with respect t'oithe .radiusfIlI 5 and the axis of. the turret.

. U The pin I23 is adjustablealong the radius from the carrier axis. This adjustment may be derived in any suitable manner. A suitabl construction forlthis purpose. is, illustrated. in the drawings. The]. slide I24 is received-within a dovetailed slot I25 ina block I21 secured upon the bottom face of the top plate .69. Theinner end of the slide I24 has rigidly. secured therein a. stud or pin I28 which projectsinto a slot I29 in a cam plate I39. The slot. I29 is angularly disposed with respect-to the radius. from the-carrier-axis. The cam plate is normally held in fixedposition with respect to the other. elementslofthe mechanism and consequentlyQby reasonjof. the presence of the pin I28 "also holds ee i fixed Desi;- fionl- 1 T I ring I30 upon its supportingboss I32. A suitable mechanism'for accomplishing this result, is shown in the drawings in whichohe ofthe plates"'I3 0 is provided along its inner edge withgear teeth I34; A pinion I35 fixed upori the' lower end'of a shaft I36 meshes with the teethl34. The'sliaft I36 has a bearing in the plate 60. The upper end of the shaft I36 has secured thereto a gear I31 which in turn meshes with a pinion-I38 fixed upon a shaft I39 which is journaled'in the top plate 66. The upper end of the shaft I39- has'secuied thereon a hand wheel I40. Throughthe medium of the inter-connecting gear train just described, the operatormay by turning thehand wheellfll, rotate the- -'ring' I30 and thereby -"s'imult'aneously adjust the position bt'the' pins I23with-respect tothe carrier-axis. --T-he machineope rator having the above described adjusting-means'athis disposal may -"positively; accuratelyand simultaneously adjust-all of the heel positioning fingers to adjusttliemachineto receive any size heel-with a minimum'foiefibrt; and in theshdrtest possible time} To make the-adjustment; the rotation of the -carrier must-be stoppedand asample heel is insertedbetween the positioning fingers while the adjusting hand wh'eelis --moved :until the fingers embrace the- -breast -corners of the heel without any sideplay: The adjustment {is then-locked against-displacement by tighteninga setsc-rew I4 I against the shaft 139; The adjustment-must be madejhowever, at theparticular heel jaclrwhich happ ns 'tqbe at the loading station, because at this time, thecam I2I acting-upon therollI-ZIJ has moved theslide-l I3 outward away from the carrier axis into its'gagingpositiomas shown-in thelower portionjof Fig; 13. After this adjustment ismadethemachine' is ready for operation andas the carrier rotates, the jacks are moved away'fromtheir; loading positioning and substantially at; the same tiineltheir rotation is resumed, thGIOHjlgD fid QS down from'the outer edge'of the am 2'! and h e I I 3 is r t esib th pr I I8 out-of the'path'of the jack to-permit its free rotation. The cam. I2! is rigidly fixed upon a supporting plate I 42; which'injllrn isfixed ymounted upon. an extension I4 3 ofthe post 22 The cam I 2I is'placed upon the disc I42'in such position that the roll, IZIlon-each slide will suecessively engage the cam and project the fingers outward. into their heel engaging position prior to thearrivalof tn a at tne loadin j tation. The fi g rs ar th gr l ld nt i p it on .un a heel has been placedin'the jack by th opera,- tor with its seatproperly engaging the base 66 thereof andits breastcorners received accuratelriin the recesses I22 of the fingers and ,is held in this position until .the clamp 8Q descends to clamp the heel, afte r which, as. above pointed out, the roll I26 rides off the earn and the fingers are retractedinwardto prevent their engagement with other, machine parts during the operation of the machine and llntilthe jack again arrivesat theej ectin g and loading station. Theppper positioning mechanism shown in Fig 13 shows the en i g fin rs f? the r target d posit n,

To producethedesired smoothing action upon a heel, one or more smoothing stations are a r ranged about the periphery of the carrier adiacent to and in positionto-be engaged by thehe'el's carried in the heel jacks. Various types of smoothing tools may be employed, depending on the character of the workto be accomplished.

ing tool at each treating station may be'varied at will; A typical arrangement would be to employ a series of abrasive belts. At the first station a relatively coarse abrasive could 'be used, whileat the succeeding stations, 'a progressively finer abrasive could be employed, thereby producing a final finish of high quality. The'last station or the last two stations could be provided with a special type of smoothing tool uponwhich suitable polishing compounds could be spreadand thus execute at these stations a polishing opera;- tion upon the heel. It will be noted that not only is the possible speed of production of the mazo chine exceedingly high; but that the pluralityof treating stations provided'does not diminish the speed of production in any way, since'the three processin'g'stations are functioning simultaneously.

Since the three stations designated A, B and'C in the drawings are identical in construction, only one, therefore, will be described. The smoothing belts IIO are supported along with their associ ated mechanism upon brackets I45. The three 3:) stationsa're desirably disposed at ninety degrees about the periphery of the carrier. Each bracket is securely bolted to the base 20, thereby'produoing a unitary structure." The smoothing belts as shown in the drawings, are driven in amanner to produce a vertical out or smoothing action upon the heel. While this vertical smoothing action is a valuable and effective feature of the inven tion, it is also within the scope thereof to arrange the smoothing belts to 'producecross'wise' or horiw zontalsmoothing action upon the heel,;'as.il1ustrat'ed diagrammatically in Fig. 16. The brackets I45 are provided at their upper portionwith a bearing I46 within-'which'a' shaft I4! isreceived. Theshaft I41 projects outward from its bearing and has mounted .thereonla pulley I48 over'whicl'i the upper run: of the smoothing'belt I I0 travels. The inner run of the belt passes over and i's'held in close contact with a form block I49 =andthence passes downward over a driving pulley I5I! mounted upon'th shaft of a motor I5I and then passes in a straight outer run upwardly to the pulley I48. The bearing} I46 is provided with a cylindrical housing andis air-'- ranged for adjustingfits alignment in a vertical plane, therebyto accurately control the'tijacking of the smoothingb'elt over its supporting and driving pulleys. To accomplish this endfthe hear ing housing I 46 is pivoted upon a pair of oppositely disposed trunnion bearings I52 adjacent its inner end. The trunnions arefixed in stup porting member I53. The outer end of the bearing I46 is a'djustable'upwardly and downwardly to vary the angular position of the pulley I46. This adjustment maybe accomplished in anysuitable manner, such as that shown in the draw;- ings, wherein the bearing at its outer end projects through a yoke constituting a portion of the bearing supporting member I53 and havingfa clamping screw I54 mounted for verticaladjustmerit in the lower portion of the yoke. Oppositely disposed to the screw I54 and bearing upon the top of the housing I46 is a vertically movable plunger i55 backed by a relatively heavy ,lsprin'g I56. Tl tension of the spring I56 is adjustable by Th smoothing tool is desirably in the form of, a flexible belt I Ill. The character of the smoothfore it is necessary only to adjust the screw I54 and lock it in correct position by means of a lock nut I58 provided for the purpose.

To accommodate smoothing belts,'which vary slightly in length and to obtain the correct degree of tension in the belts, the pulley I48 and its associated bearing assembly are arranged to be vertically adjusted. To secure this adjustment, the pulley and its bearing assembly are mounted upon a substantially vertically adjustable bracket I59, which is movable upon the bracket I 45. The bracket I59 is provided with a female member of a dove-tail Slide I56, while the male portion of the slide is formed upon the bracket. The bracket I59 is adjustable up and down by means of a screw Ifil having a hand wheel I62 at its upper end. The screw I6I is held against axial movement on the'bracket I45'by a suitable bearing and collar and has threaded connection with the bracket I59 in the conventional manner.

The form block I49 presents upon its active face I63 a contour which has a master profile curve which varies in radius from its upper to its lower extremity. This profile is so designed that some portion of its length will match the profile of anyportio-n of practically any type and size of heel, If a heel of highly special shape is to be treated, another block may be substituted, bearing the appropriate profile. The block may be made of any material and is herein shown as made of wood and may or may "not 'be provided with a, relatively thin facing I64 of resilient or semiresilient material.

As suggested in the brief description inthe first part of this specification, the heels may be treated correctly by moving them across and in engagement with the belt I44 at the form block while rotating them. about their height-wise axis and performing the operation while the form block is held motionless. However, many types of heels, such as the higher type, used in ladies fancy and dress shoes, which present more com.- plicated contoured surfaces, it is found that by properly shifting the position of the form block I 49 with respect to the heel and in accurately predetermined timed relation to the movement of the heel across the smoothing belt and to its rotational position during such travel, the contours of any heel may accurately be matched with the contour block uniformly to smooth every portion ,of the heel surface. To produce the desired relative motion of the form block I49 with respect to the heel, any suitable mechanism may be employed. It is within the scope of the invention to either move the heel with respect to the stationary form block or move the form block with respect to a heel maintained in a unidirectional axial position.

Preferred forms of mechanism for accomplishing the desired end are illustrated in the drawings. In one form of the mechanism, and the form which is preferred of the two shown in the drawings means are provided for the shifting of the form block with respect to a heel which is rotated about a uni-directional axis through,- out the smoothing operation. 7 In this preferred form of mechanism, the form block I49has an active face presenting a contour generated by the straight line movement of a curve which is complementary to the master curve of the heel profile. The active face of the block is positioned closely adjacent to the path of the heels held in the heel jack and is substantially tangent to the stantially midway of the 'block vertically and about one and one-half inches outward from its face. v To-rsecure thedesired motion of the block, it pivotally'mounted upon a pair of trunnions I65 situated upon the determined axis. The trunnions are journaled at their outer ends in a pair of brackets I66 projecting outward from a supporting plate I61 and embracing the ends of the block. 1

lo provide a more efficient and rigid construction thewooden block I49 is firmly screwed to a metallic plate I68; which in turn, is fastened to anotherplate' I 69. Projecting inward from the plate l69, are a pair of ears I10 which embrace theends of the block I49 and provide a durable metallic support within which the inner ends of the trunnion I=65 are anchored.- Means are pro videdfor. adjusting the horizontal alignment of the .plate I68 and consequently the block I49 with respect to the-plate I69. -This adjustment may be of any suitable construction. An effective means-is shown wherein a pair of stud bolts are provided to secure the plates together. The apertures in the plate .169, through which the bolts passare elongated slightly vertically;thereby permitting the block to .be shifted horizontally. The purpose of thisad'justment is toaccurately line up the face of the block. I49 with the plane in which the heels travel. To provide a readily manipulated .means to make this adjustment, a set screw H4 is employed, having threaded engagement with an ear on the plate I69 and havingits end engaging thelbottom edge of the plate 1-68 at one endthereof. By making adjustment by means of the screw IFII, small increments of motionmay be imparted to the block and when theexact adjustment is securedthe bolts are tightened to rigidlysecure the two plates together. f a

An' initialorstatic matching relationship must be established between the block contour 'andthe heel contour. To aid in arriving at this adjustment, the block 149 is provided with means for vertically adjusting it with respect to the heel. Any ,suitablemeans maybe provided for obtaining this result. ,.A desirable construction is shown in the drawings, wherein a vertically disposed rabbeted connection I12 is provided between the plate. .261 and a -main block supporting bracket I13. The bracket I13 is composed ofa substantially horizontally disposed base portion and 'a subitalltially vertically disposed plate or wallsection I14, which. islangularly adjustable with respect .to the baseportion. It is upon the section I14 that the plate I61 is secured and is vertically adjustable thereon through the medium of thfiliabbeted joint I12, After a correct vertical adjustment of the block with respect to the heel has been obtained, a clamping screw I 15 is tightened to lock the parts in position. a -'Ihe member I14 is pivoted to its base portion at I16 and is provided'with acircular'slot I11 concentric with the pivot I16 Within which a clamping screw I18 is received and which serves to lock the parts in adjusted position. This angular adjustment provides further flexibility in establishing the desired relationship between the heel and the form block I49.

the'form block HIS-toward and from the axis of the carrier. Bracket I13 is secured to another bracket I19 which is rigidly secured upon the main base bracket I45. Adjustment of the bracket I'I3upon the bracket H9 is efiected by turning the hand'wheel I88, which issecured upon the end of a screw I8I and fixed against axial movement upoh'the bracket I19 and having screw threaded engagement with the bracket I13. Straight line relationship between the twO brackets is obtained by a dovetail slide-one member of which is formedupon the block I19 while'the other member of the slide is formed upon the bracket I13.

As pointed out in the brief description, in the first part of this specification, the form block I49 is provided with means which automatically swing in about the trunnions I65. This swinging motion is derived from a cam I82 shown best in Fig. 9. The cam is mounted to move substantially radially outward from the axis of the carriar. A suitable means for'doing this is illustrated in the drawings, wherein the cam is situated within the housing 39 within the path of a follower I83 rotatably mounted upon the lower end of the pivot shaft 42 of each of the heads on the carrier. The cam I82 is vremovably mounted upon a supporting plate I84 which extends outward through an aperture in the wall of the housing 39 and is secured upon the free end of a relatively long fulcrum lever I85. The lever I855 is elongated to secure a substantially straight radial movement of the cam. The lever is shaped to conform to the curve of the housing 39 to produce a compact design. The lever I85 is fulcrumed at I86 upon a fulcrum block I8'I secured to the machine base. The plate I84 rests upon and slides over a guide plate I88 secured to the bottom wall of the housing. The extreme free end of the lever I85 has pivoted thereto a link I89. The link I89 is universally connected at its outer end I98 to the lower end of a lever I9I. The lever I9I is fulcrumed at I92 upon a bracket I93 rigidly secured to the bracket H9. The upper end of the lever I9I is universally connected at I94 to one end of a link I95, the other end of which is pivoted to an arm I 96 at I91. The lower end of the arm I96 is pivoted upon the axis of the trunnion I65. The arm I96 is provided with a circular slot I98 concentric with the trunnion axis and through which a locking screw I99 extends. Screw I99 has threaded connection with an extension 288 of one of the ears I'I8 projecting from the plate I69. Movement of the arm I96 is thus transmitted to the block, through the extension 288 of the ear I I8, which in turn, is connected to the block. Motion of the arm is derived from the cam, I82 throughthe system of connecting links and levers above described. The links I89 and I95 arep rovided with means for adjusting their length. In setting up and adjustingfthe machine to processa given heel,. the reouired angular position of theblock is obtained by properly adjusting the length of the links I89 and I95 and also by utilizing the adjustment provided by the locking screw I99, which when looselnedpermits the block to be manually swung in any desired position, after which the screw is tightened to lock the adjustment.

Spring mean are provided for maintaining contactof the cam I82 against the follower I83. Any suitable 'means will serve this purpose. As shown herein, the upper portion of th arm. I96 has connected thereto a tension spring 28I. The other end of the spring is'anchored to the end of an adjusting rod 282. The rod 282 has thread ed engagement with a stud 283 projecting from the fulcrum I92 of the lever I 9I The spring 28I is connected to a block 284 which has a swivel connection With the rod 282. To adjust the spring tension, the rod is rotated by means of a wing nut 285. As the adjustment is made, the rod turns in the block 284 without tending to twist the end of the spring. By pulling'upon the arm I96, the spring 28I sets up a resilient pressure between the cam I82 and the follower I83, which maintains them in contact as the follower moves along the cam;

After the necessary adjustments have been completed and a correctly shaped cam secured in position at each of the processing stations, the machine is ready for operation. To'perfect the character of the smoothing operation 'to its highest degree, it may be found desirable to adjust the tension of the spring members 46 by turning the hand Wheel 6i, thereby to adapt the operation of the machin to heel' material of varying degree of hardness Or to material having special characteristics requiring special conditions of operation. Further variations in the processing procedure may be introduced by the use of smoothing tools having various degrees of coarseness to suit them to a given condition! The shape of the cam I82 is' determined by the contour of the heel. A suitable procedure for constructing the cam curve and. adjusting the elements of the machine to produce a predetermined desired result can readily b worked out by a skilled operator after which the machine may be attended by an unskilled operator, since its operation is completely automatic. An effective method of deriving a cam curve is as follows. A cam pattern blank is temporarily fastened in the inner end of the cam holding plate I84. The heel to be treated is then placed in a heel Jack at one of the processing stations with its axis of symmetry upon the axis of the turret 65. The turret is then turned until the back line of the heel is facing the smoothing belt I I8. The various adjustments of the block, above described, are then manipulated to bring the correct portion of the form block profile into register with the heel profile. Since, as hereinbefore stated, the active face of the block I49 is generated by straight line movement of the master curve of the heel profile, the position of the block must, therefore, be carefully adjusted, to insure that the direction of the line along which the block face is generated lies parallel to the plane in which the heel travels.

With the adjustments all carefully checked, the carrier is moved by hand through a serie of small increments of its travel along the smoothing belt. At each position, the block is tilted about its trunnion support by hand to match the contour of the heel to that of the block. This movement of the block through the inter-connecting elements, moves the cam pattern. A mark is made on the cam pattern at the position which the cam follower assumes for the particular test position. A series of marksare thus made on the pattern representing each test position throughout the complete travel of the heel across the smoothingbelt. From this series of marks, a smooth cam curve is constructed and the Working cam face shaped accordingly.

In. Figs. 14 and 15, -a mechanism of modified construction for automatically matching the heel contour to the block contour is shown. In this construction, the contour block is first adjusted to its correct position to match the heel with its back line extending radially outward from the carrier axis. The block is then looked against further movement and the cam I82 is removed. In this form of the invention, means are provided for raising and lowering the heel itself vertically with respect to the form block. To accomplish this, the heads 40 are lifted bodily to thereby lift the heel. The construction of the head, therefore, differs to some extent from that hereinbefore described. This construction diifers only in respect to the manner of supporting the head on the pivot shaft. The head is pivoted upon a shaft 206, the upper end of which projects into a bracket 201 secured to the upper face of the top plate 60. Th shaft 200 is supported in its vertical position by the bracket of the same construction as that used in connection with the previously described form of heads 40. The shaft 206 is freely movable axially in the bracket, but is held against rotation, by means of aspline 208.

The bottom of the shaft 206 is provided with a roll 209 which engages a cam 210 and is held thereagainst by a spring 2 surrounding the shaft and bearing at one end against a shoulder on the bracket 201 and at its other end against the top pivot bearing 213, of the shaft 206. The shaft 206 also passes through a bottom pivot bearing 214. The two bearings 2| 3 and 214 act to maintain the head in fixed relative alignment with the shaft 206. The earn 210 is so positioned within the machine base that it will be traversed by the follower roll 209 during the passage of the heel across the smoothing belt 0.. V I The shape of the cam 2l0 is determined to cause the heel to rise andfall in the required degree to match the form block contour to the heel contour at all relative positions of the heel and block. The lifting of the cam and roll is transmitted to the head through the shoulder 2 5 formed upon the enlarged bottom of the shaft 205 and upwards through a shoulder 2| 6 upon the upper face of the control element 12 tothe housing 2l1 of the head. The gear 1 I the element 12 and the gear are rigidly secured to a sleeve 2H3, which rotates freely upon the shaft 205, thereby driving the turret 65 and jack 66. As the head moves upward under the influence of the cam 2 .0. the shaft 206, the head and all connecting parts, move upward which movement compresses the spring 2, while the upper end of the shaft moves upward into the elongated up er end of an aperture 2l9 formed in the bracket The vertical position of the cam able by means of the mechanism shown inFig. 18. The cam is secured in a vertically movable carriage member 2 1.0,- with its upper portionprojecting through a slot in the bottom wall of the housing 39 The member 2 19 has formed there on the female member of a dovetail slideIZU, which is receivedin the male member of the sl de formed upon a bracket-22l securely screwed to the bottom face of the housing-39.. Adjustment of the cam is'provided by, a screw 222,;10- tatably mountedin and held against axial movement ith respect to the carriage 219 and having threaded engagement with the bracket 22].

Adjustment of the cam is thereby facilitatedby rotationof a hand; wheel 223 secured to the bot tom end of the screw 222. I I a Fig. 16. illustrates diagrammatically a suitable arrangement for operation of a machine by the 210 i adjust;

use of smoothing belts drivenhorizontally insteadof vertically. The construction and function of the machine is the same as in the preferred embodiment, first above described, with the exception of the means for supporting and driving the smoothing belts.

One processing station or a plurality may be employed as illustrated in Fig. 16. The smoothing belts 224 travel over-pairs of pulleys 225 and 226 mounted respectively upon vertical shafts 221 and 228 journaled in a supporting frame 229. The pulley'225 is driven by a motor 230 directly connected to the shaft 221. The belt is firmly stretched over the face of the form block M9 by a suitable tightening means, not shown. In this form of the machine the travel of the belt is substantially at right angles to the vertical heel axis.

While the. operation of each portion of the apparatus has been covered in the general description, it may assist in and clarify the understanding of the general operation of the machine, to briefly review its operation in correct functional sequence.

The untreated heel is received by the operator with its back and side areas shaped to its final contour upon a heel turning or shaping machine. Other heel shaping operations, such as concaving the seat and grading the toplift end of the heel may be performed before or after they are received by the operator of the smoothing machine. The operator inserts heels in the jacks,

as they are presented to him. The heel is carecorners properly engaging the fingers H2, The

operator follows along with the continuously moving carrier, holding the heel in position until the clamp 89 descends. The heel then starts to rotate as it approaches station A. At the correctly timed instant, the follower I01 rides outward along the cam I09, moving the-side face of the heel into engagement with the belt H0, at its breast corner. The heel continues to rotate, presenting every portionof its side and back areas to the belt, after which it is retracted by the cam I09A. During its traverse across the belt, the contour of the heel and form block are maintained in accurate match by means ofthe cam I82 and its inter-connecting elements. The heel then proceeds to the other stations, where it is further processed and then arrives at the unload or ejecting station, where rotation of the jack is stopped and the clamp 89 is raised to permit the heel to fall or be ejected from the scribed as vertical, it should be noted that the important structural feature involved is that the belts travel substantially parallel to the vertical axis or axis of symmetry of the heels and that it is immaterial what position the assembled parts assume with respect to the plane of the support upon which the machine base rests.

' A valuable characteristic of the preferred con struction is that the smoothing belts continue to function efficiently over a relatively long period of usefulness. This results from the fact that the smoothing action takes place while the heel is traversing the full width of the belt thus utilizing its whole area. Furthermore the abrasive material on the belts does not tend to weardown rapidly or become filled withchips excessively, because random portions of the belts are contacted by successive heels thereby utilizing every portion of the belts to best advantage. The many important advantages of this apparatus will be apparent tothose skilled in the art 'percrease in the quality of work obtained. I H

Among otheroutstanding advantages'of the machine are its high econom of operation, its durability and its ability to maintain precision of operation over a long period of usefulness. Due to the precise manner of its operation, the heels produced are held withinextremely close limits to their intended dimensions and contour. ,Iclaim:

1. In a machine'for smoothing the side and back areas of shoe heels, a base, a circular carrier rotatably mounted upon said base, a ring gear fixed upon said base concentric with the axis of said carrier, a plurality of heel feeding heads, pivotally mounted at one of their ends upon and arranged substantially tangential to the periphery of said carrier and'having their free outer ends movable substantially along a radius from the axis of the carrier, a pinion gear for each head rotatably mounted upon the pivotal axis thereof andmeshing with and driven by said ring gear, a revolving'turret in the outer endof Further- T said head, having a heel holding jack thereon, a

gear train in said head in which said pinion gears are the drivers, said trains of gears acting to ro- 'tatesaid turret in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of said carriage, a drivensm'oothing tool presenting a face shaped to conform-to the heel contour and means for causing engagement and disengagement of heels in said jacks,

thereby to execute the smoothing operation.

2, In a machine for smoothing the side and 'back areas of shoe heels, a base, a circular car rier rotatably mounted upon said base, a ring gear fixed upon said base concentric with the axis of said carrier, a plurality of heel feeding heads pivotally mounted at one of their ends upon and arrangedsubstantially tangential to the periphery of said carrier'and having their outer free ends movable substantially along a radius from the axis of the carrier, a pinion gear for each head, rotatably'mounted upon the pivotal axis thereof and meshing with and driven b said ring gear, revolving turrets in the outer free ends of said heads, having heel holding jacks thereon,

a gear train in each head, in which said pinion gears are the driving'members, said trains of gears acting to rotatesaidturrets in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of said carriage, a driven smoothing tool in the form of a flexible belt, a form block presenting a working face having a contour complementary to the master curve of the heel profile and over which said smoothing tool passes and is held inclose contact and automatic cam pattern means for shifting said block in timed relation to the rotation of the heels in the jack, whereby the contour of the heel at all portions of its side and back areas is matched by the contour of the block throughout the smoothing operation.

3."In 'a'machine for'smoothing the back and side areas of shoe heels, a base, a circular car- 'rier' rotatably mounted on said base, a plurality of heel feeding heads, pivotally mounted at one of their ends upon andarranged substantially tangential along the periphery of saidcarrier having theirrouter free ends movable substantially along a'radius'from the carrier axis, driven smoothing tool situated adjacent the periphery of said carriergre'silient members engaging and urging the free ends of said heads outward, heel jacks upon the outer ends of said heads, means for rotating the'jack's in timed relation to the movement of said carrier, means acting to retain said heads from outwardmovement for a portiOnoftheir travel, a cam acting to permit said heads to swin g outward under the influence of said resilient members at a. predetermined position in 'thei'r travel to cause engagement of the heels in the jacks with said smoothing tool, thereby to execute the smoothing operation and means for simultaneously adjusting the degree of resiliency of all of said resilient members)" 4. A machine-for smoothing the side and back areas of shoe heels comprising a base, a circular carrier rotatably' mounted on said base, meansfor'continuously rotating said carrier, a plurality of heel feeding heads pivoted upon and swingable outward away from said carrier, a plurality of heel holding jacks mounted on said heads, clamping means "on said jacks for clamping the heels with their vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of travel of said carrier, means for rotating said jacks'with respect to the carrier, including a driving member fixed onsaid base and a driven member on each jack 'coacting'with said driving member, a form block situated adjacent the carrier on said base, presentinga working face having a profile contour matching the master curve of the heel profile, a smoothing tool in the form of a flexible belt having meansfor' driving it across in close contact with the working face of said form block and ma direction parallel to the plane of travel of said carriage and means for moving 'said heads with respect to the carrier to present heels clamped in the jacks to said smoothing tool,

thereby to execute the smoothing operation. v

5."In' a machine for smoothing the back and side'faces of shoe heels having the elements'defined in claim 4, together with 'a plurality of heel treating mechanisms of the same construction as that defined therein. j

6. A machine for smoothing the back and side faces of shoe heels comprising a base, a carrier driven upon said base and having a plurality of heel feeding heads thereon, each of said heads having a'heel jack rotatably mounted thereon;

a form block situatedon said base adjacent said carrier, presenting a' working face having a icontour matching the master profile curve of heels 7 being treated, a smoothing tool in the form of a flexible 'belt driven across and held'in close contact with the working face'of said form block, means for rotating the jacks including a driving member on said base and a driven member on each jack coacting with said driving member, means for successively moving said heads with respect to the smoothing tool to' cause the heels therein to engage the 'tool and'thereby execute the smoo'thing'operation and cam pattern means to movesaid head bodily'perpendicularly to the plane of movement of said carrier during the smoothing operation, thereby to shift the heels with respect to said form block contour of the heel to the block. i

' 7. A machine for smoothing the previously shaped side and backareas of a shoe, heel comto match the prising a frame, a driven smoothing tool, a 'continuously driven carrier on said'frame acting to move the heel into operative-position adjacent said tool, heel manipulating means upon said carrier" acting to move: the heelbodily away from said :carrier' into engagement with said tool, a heel holding jack on said heel manipulating means, a clamp on said; jack, a heel positioning stop coacting with said clamp to grip the heel in' saidjack' in a predetermined position with respect to its breast face, means for rotating said jacks in timed relation tothe position of the heel therein and to the travel oi said carrier said; rotating means having a driving member on saidframe and adrivenmember on said-jacksa sec ond timing means coacting in positive timed re lation to said first timing means to cause. said heel manipulating means to move the heel'into engagement with said tool at a predetermined position upon the heel and to withdraw the heel from the tool at the'end of the smoothing operation at a second predetermined position upon the I heel. p f l 8. A machine for smoothing the previously shaped side and back areas of ashoe heel comprising a frame, a driven smoothing'tool, a continuously moving carrier on said. frame acting to move the heel into position adjacent said tool, heel manipulating means onsaidcarrier acting to move the heel laterally outward from saidcarrier toengage-said tool, a. heel jaclr on said heel manipulatingqmeans acting to hold and to. rotatethe heel-upon a unidirectional he-ightwise axis, means tor positioningthe heel in a predetermined radial position with respect to said axis, a positively acting mechanical interconnecting means for coordinating. the radial position. of the heel with the motion of saidcarriage and, said heel manipulating means to cause {an accurately predetermined portion of the heel area. to be processed'to-first. engage. the tool and toretractthe heel from the tool after the smoothing operation is completed.

9, A machine for smoothing the previously shaped side and bacls areas of a wooden shoe heel comprising a frame, a driven smoothing tool, a carrier for feeding the heels into smoothing position adjacent said tool, a plurality of heel manipulating heads on said carrier operable to move said heels laterally outward. from thc carrier to engage said tool, heel jacks on said heads, means for rotating said jacks thereby to rotate the heels upon a heightwise axis said'rotating means including a driving member, on said carrier and, a driven member on each of said, jacks, a stop gauge on each jack to position said heels within the jacks. in a predetermined position, gear-like mechanical means acting positively to maintain a fixed timed relation between the radial position of the heel and jack and the position of the carrier, a second timing means whose action is. coordinated with the timed movement of said heel and jack acting, through said heel maniplating heads, to cause the heels successively to engage the tool, with one side face thereof tangent thereto at its breast corner and means for separating the heel and tool after the heel'has rotated to present itsside and back areas and has arrived at. a position with its other breast corner tangent to the face of said tool.

lll'A machine for smoothing the previously shaped side and back areas of a shoe heel cemprising a base, a circular carrier member rotatably mounted on said base, a driven smoothing tool situated adjacent the periphery ofsaid carrier, a plurality of heel holding jacks rotatably mounted on. said carrier adjacent its periphery, means for holding the heels in said jacks with their heightwise: axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the jacks and in a predetermined radial position with respect to the said axis, positive driving means acting to rotate said jacks in fixed timed relation to thetravel of said carrier and to the radial position of the heel, said drivingmeans having a driving member fixed to said base and a driven member on each jack, means acting in timed relation to the radial position of the heel in the jack to move the heel and: jack bodily with respect to the carrier into operating relation with said tool and to control the period of engagement of the heel therewith to cause the tool to act once over the heel suriaces and. to start and stop the smoothing action precisely at the breast corners of the heel.

11. A machine for smoothing the sides and back areas of a shoe. heel comprising a frame, a driven smoothing tool at least as Wide as the height of the heel and having the form of a flexiblebelt, a: carrier on said frame for feeding the heels to be treated along the surface of said tool at uniform speed, a plurality of heel manipulating heads movably mounted on said carrier, a heel holding: jack for each head rotatably mounted thereon, said head being operableto move the heels said-jacks relatively to the carrier and into engagement with said tool, means to rotate the jacks: having a driving member on said frame anda driven member onv each jack whereby the heels are rotated as they are moved along thesurface of said tool thereby to'present the entire area of the treated surfaces of the heel to the tool and a rigid form block over-,which said smoothing tool is drivenand heldin close con.- tact at the heel treating position, said form bloch having its, active face presenting the contours generated by movement'ina straight line of the profile curve complementary to the master profile-of the heel contour. i

12'. A machine for smoothing the previously shaped sides and back areas of a shoe heelcom.- prisinga frame, a carrier, means for moving said'carrier at un-iiorm speed upon saidframe, a plurality of heel manipulating heads connected to said carrier and movable outward substantially laterally from the path of travel of said conveyor, a. heel holding jack rotatably mounted on eachhead, gaugingmeans on the jacks for accurately positioning theheels therein with their axes of symmetry in line with the axis of rotation of the-jacks and with the heels" in a predetermined radial position with respect to the jack, means to rotate the jacks including a driving member on said frame and a driven member on each jack, a smoothing tool having the form of a relatively Wide flexible 'belt, a rigid form block fixed adjacent said carrier and presenting an activeface having a profile contour complementary to that'ofithe heel sides, means acting in timed relation tothe: rotation of said jacks and to 'the'travel of said carrier to==mcve said heads to cause engagement of the'heel with said tool retract them therefrom insuch manner that the smoothing operation will be initiated at one breast. corner, proceed successively around the adjacent sidesi'the back and opposite side faces of the heel and end at the other breastcorner;

13. A machine for smoothing; the previously Shtipfid sideandbackareas of shoe heels comprising a; frame, a carrier movable upon the frame, means: to drive the: carrier at uniform speed-,. a plurality of heel manipulating heads on said, ca-rrier so-iconnected thereto that they are movable, laterallyaway from the path ofv travel thereof, a heel holding jack rotatably mounted on each of said heads having means for clamping heels therein with their heightwise axis substantially in line with the axis of rotation of the jack, means for rotating the jacks, a smoothing tool having the form of a flexible belt of substantial width situated adjacent said carrier, means to drive said tool in a direction substantially parallel to the axes of the heels and automatic means acting in timed relation with the movernent of said carrier to move said heads to cause the heels therein first to engage said tool near one of its edges thereby to initiate the smoothing operation and to retract the heels from the tool after said carrier has moved the heels laterally across the tool and substantially to its other edge.

14. Amachine for smoothing previously shaped back and side areas of shoe heels comprising a frame, a carrier on said frame, means to move said carrier with uniform speed upon said carrier,' a plurality of heel manipulating heads on said carrier 'so connected thereto that they are movable laterally away from the path of travel thereof. a heel holding jack rotatably mounted on each of said heads having means for clamping heels therein with theirheightwise axes substantially in line with the axis of rotation of the jacks, means for rotating the jacks, a smoothing tool having the form of a flexible belt of substantial width situated adjacent the periphery of said carrier, means to drive the tool in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the heels, a rigid form block over which said smoothing tool is driven and held in close contact at the heel treating positionfthe active faceof said block presenting the form generated by movementin a straight line of the profile curve complementary to the master profile of the heel and automatic means acting in timed relation to the movement of said carrier to move said head to' cause the heels therein first to engage said tool 'near' one of its edges thereby to initiate the smoothing operation and to retract the heels from the tool after the carrier has moved the heels laterally across the tool and substantially to its other edge.

15. In a machine for smoothing the previously shaped side and back areas of shoe heels, comprising the elements defined in claim 14 together with automatic means acting in timed relation to the travel and rotation of the heels to match the heel contour with that of the block during the smoothing operation and including pivots upon which said form block may rock, a mechanically driven blockrocking mechanism, having an element movable upon the frame and a rigid mechanical connection between said movable member and said form block.

' '16. A machine for smoothing the side and back areas of shoe heels comprising a frame, a car rier on said frame having a plurality of heel holding jacks rotatably mounted thereon, means for driving said carrier, means for rotating said jacks in timed relation to the movement of said carrier, a form block presenting a working face having a contour shaped to match the profile curve of said heel sides, a driven smoothing tool having'the form of a flexible belt; passing'over and held in close contact with the working face of said form block, means for moving the jacks with respect to the carrier to present heels held therein to said tool, pivoting means to permit angular shifting of the position'of said'fblock, a mechanism on said frame having an element movable according to a predetermined pattern and deriving its motion from the movement of said carrier, rigid mechanical inter-connecting members between said movable member and said block acting to shift the block position with respect to the heels in predetermined timed rela tion to their rotation while engaging said tool thereby to match the contour of the block to the heel sides during the smoothing operation.

17. A machine for smoothing the side and back areas of shoe heels comprising a frame, a car'- rier, means for continuously moving said carrier upon said frame, said carrier having a plurality of heel holding jacks thereon, means for rotating said jacks in timed relation to the travel of said carrier, a form block presenting a working face shaped to match the profile contour of the heel sides, pivoting means for permitting angular shifting of the position of said block, a driven smoothing tool having the form of a flexible belt passing over and held in close contact with the working face of said form block, means for moving said jacks with respect to the carrier to present the heels held therein to said tools, a form block shifting mechanism having a cam and a coacting follower one of these elements being mountedion said carrier and the other upon said frame, a movable member on said frame receiving motion from said cam and follower, positively acting mechanical means connecting said movable member with said form block to move the block in predetermined timed relation with respect to the rotation of the heel as it traverses said block thereby to' match the contours of the heel and block during the smoothing operation.

18. A machine for smothing the side and'back areas of shoe heels comprising a frame, a ear rier, means for continuously moving said'carrier upon said frame, a plurality of heel holding, jacks rotatably mounted on said carrien'means' for rotating said heel jacks in timed relation to the travel of said carrier, a form block presenting a working face shaped to match the profile curve of the heel sides, a driven smoothing tool having the form of a flexible belt passing over and held in close contact with the said working face of the form block, means for moving said jacks with respect to the carrier to present the heels held therein to said tool, pivoting means for permitting angular movement of said block", the axis of which lies adjacent to and extends in substantially the same direction as that in which the heel travels, form block shifting mechanism having a cam and a coacting follower one of these elements being mounted upon said carrier and, the other upon said frame, a movable memberon said frame receiving motion from said cam and follower, positively acting mechanical means con necting said movable member and said block to rock the block about its axis in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of the heels, Whereby the heel contour and the block contour are matched continuously during the smoothing operation.

19. A machine for smoothing the side and back areas of shoe heels comprising a frame, a

carrier, means for continuously driving said carrier upon said frame, a plurality of heel holding jacks on said carrier, means for rotating said jacks about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of said carrier/said jacks having means thereon for supporting'a heel with its heightwise axis substantially coin ciding with the axis of rotation of the jacks, fa

form block presenting a working face shaped to match the profile contour of the heel' sides, a

smoothing tool having the form of a flexible belt 

